Former Bellator champion Ben Askren suggests that Islam Makhachev might be stripped of his UFC championship belt if he declines to fight Ilia Topuria.
Askren stated that Dana White should employ his usual tactic, saying, “Hey Islam, if you`re unwilling to fight, we`ll strip you of your belt.” He added, “Dana has a history of doing this. If you hold the championship, you`re obligated to defend it against the top contender, right? And Ilia has consecutively defeated two legends, not just defeating them but finishing Volkanovski and Holloway in the featherweight division. It’s quite clear he is the best, and now he is moving up to lightweight. Arman Tsarukyan was initially slated for a title shot but withdrew from the fight at the last moment, necessitating another fight first. Therefore, it’s logical: Ilia is the champion, undefeated, and has beaten two legends in a row. I don’t see how a title shot can be denied to him,” Askren concluded.
